I've been obsessed with the idea of a multi-purpose spare room for years now. So when we moved to the East Bay where we could actually maybe sort of possibly have an extra bedroom, I could not wait to get my designing paws on it and create the most stylish and efficient room possible!
If we were going to move across the country, we wanted to have a mi casa es su casa policy so that our family and friends could visit at any time and not have to worry about shelling out additional cash money on a hotel room. Airfare is expensive enough! So... who wants to come stay at the Saccullo Hotel?
Working from home, I am what they call "environmentally sensitive". (Read: I become listless and unresponsive without the proper amount of sunny sun coming through the windows at all times). Not only does working from a dark space make me die a little bit inside, but I also really cannot do my job in the dark. I need to see what paint colors and fabrics actually look like in order to properly design for my clients. Natural light is so imperative to my work that it led me to rent out an office space back in NYC due to dim conditions in our old apartment.
But dim no more! This naturally lit beauty of a third bedroom in our new home has allowed me to have a bright and airy yet cozy working set up. But wait! We'll get to that. Back to where it all began - the mood board.
I had to be strategic with this room. I wanted it to feel warm and welcoming as a guest room, but not too prim and proper. It also had to function on a daily basis as an office (we'll get to it) where I could spread out fabrics and samples along the floor, maybe take a little break from my creative crunch time with a nap on the daybed Don Draper style. Old Fashioned, anyone?
Also, if some day, one day, another little one came waddling into the picture and we hadn't found our forever home yet (real estate is cray-cray out here!), this room would need to easily convert to Miss Avery Etta's Big Girl Room. Every aspect of the room, from the paint color (Benjamin Moore White Wisp) to the furniture, to the playful, somewhat girly art above the bed was chosen with these potential conversions in mind. We could easily swap her adorable aztec style rug (see "I've Got the Blues Part 1 ) with this striped rug. Even the sheets in the guest room would work for her. We would just need to switch out the duvet cover and accessories for her own, maybe repurpose these vintage brass tables (two of my favorites, gifted to us by my in-laws) and poof! Big Girl room.
The bed (which converts easily into a king size bed - whaaa? IKEA - you are doing it righttt) and bookcases boast a total of six storage drawers. That's a six-drawer dresser right there! #spacesaving. I love that the two bookcases + daybed = the exact length of our wall, give it a "built-ins-for-less" feeling. It was a little nerve wracking, since it was literally down to the 1/4". But it fit! It fit! Good to know I actually know how to work a tape measure.
Here is a pic of the room recently converted for guests:
If you're even a tad bit observant you'll notice that not everything on the mood board ended up in the room, and not everything in the room was on the mood board. Totally okay, people! That's what a mood board is all about. It's just a starting point for an "evolving process", as I like to call it.
I created the mood board after visiting the house once in a whirlwind rainy weekend trip (blamed on El Nino). After we moved in, I was up late one night unpacking. By late I mean like 1 am. Sadly this is often when I do my best work! (Explains the coffee obsession). Everyone is sleeping, so I can finally hear myself think.
So, I was throwing stuff into the spare room which was acting more like a storage unit for those first few days. And a little lightbulb went off in my head. Ding! The walk-in closet off of the guest room had a window. A window! It already had shelves, and measured about 6'x6'. By NYC standards, this was nothing short of a Fourth Bedroom.
So, voila! It became my office:
I know, I know, it's taking away a closet. But it became evident to me that this was the room's purpose. As the Fourth Bedroom, it can be behind a closed door, completely separate from the guest room. Or not. Depending on the day, depending on the current needs.
But where do guests hang their fancy frocks, you might ask? And what if Avery moves to this room? She won't have a closet?! Oh, don't worry, I got it covered! There's a spot in the guest room where I'm going to put this mirrored wardrobe to allow for hanging and additional storage. Ikea, I love you! And I'm not above you.
Anyways, the room is almost complete. I'll share more updates with you as they come along. And that is my little story about our library convertible woman den convertible guest bedroom convertible office convertible big girl room. I just love packing a big punch into a small space!
Below, a round up some more of my favorite covetable conversions. What's your fav?
~L.S.
San Francisco home of Birgit Sfvat via A Cup of Joe. Sunroom turned office turned breakfast nook turned guest room.
A more traditional daybed/library scenario via Halycon Style Blog
No caption neccessary. Except that I <3 Amber Interiors. Via My Domaine
This vanity could just as easily be used as a desk in this cozy and chic little bedroom! Image via Style Me Pretty.
LOVE the efficiency of this girl's bedroom designed by Katie Ridder. The small space allows for a desk with library style bookshelves, a daybed with trundle AND a sofa!
I've always loved this girl's room by designer Massucco Warner Miller. Love the carved detail on the drawers and the hardware, with mini drawers in the built ins!
Cozy London apartment by LLI Designs. Love the countertop fixed to the wall, floating shelves and filing cabinets mixed with the textiles.
And let's not forget about the genius of a Murphy Bed! This one is in artist Joana Avillez's Tribeca Loft. Photo via Domino.
A DIY hideaway bed creates a studio space by raising the floor. Via Lucky Pony blog.
And I saved the best for last! This gorgeous and girly playroom + office via Style Your Senses blog. DROOL!